Weighing and recording mechanism



Oct. 8, 1940. E. J. voN PEIN WEIGHING Aun nEcoRDING MECHNISM Filed Jan. 28, 193s 10 Sh'eets-Sheet 1 ATTO R N EY Oct. 8, 1940. E. J. voN PEIN WEIGHING AND'RECORDING MECHAHISM 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Filed Jan. 28, 1938 Oct. 8, 1940. E. J. voN PEIN WEIGHING AND RHCORDING MECHANICS 1o sheets-sheet s Filed Jan. 28, 19258 lNvENT R ATTORNEY Oct. 8, 1940. E.. J. voN PElN WEIGHING AND RECORDING MECHANISM 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 28. 1938 5. lu F i lll/lll! lill/Iliff.

QNvl-:NTOR I W2k/fm ATTORNEY l0' Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 28, 1938 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Oct. 8, 1940.

WEIGHING mm RECORDING mncumusu l ATTORNEY Get. 8, 1940. E. J. voN PEIN WEIGHING AND RECORDING MECHANIS Y l0 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Jan. 28. 1938 wm. mw. #I uw. mm .mt Q s2 mm.- c i f J ---NH mt me wi y nt" 2N A NN k., om.. WQN E n:

l` El l EN 1/ ATTORNEY Oct. 8, 1940'. E. J. voN PEIN WIGHING AND RECORDING MECHANISI( Filed Jan. 28, 1938 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 www lll

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ATTORNEY Oct. 8, 1940.

E. J. VON PEIN VEIGHING AND' RECORDING MECH/misil 1o' Smets-sheet s Filed Jan. 28.. 1958 a@ wm maw Oct. 8; 1940. E. J. voN PEIN WEIGHING AND RECORDING MECHANISK 10 Smets-Sheet 10 Filed Jan. 28, 1938 INVENTOR I ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 8, 1940 UNITED STATES WEIGHINGAND RECORDING MECHANISM Edward J. Von Pein, Endicott, N. Y., assignor to yInternational Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., "a corporation of New York Application January 28, 1938, Serial No. 187,502

7 Claims.

This case relates to a weighing scale for recording and registering weights.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved weight recording and registering scale.

More speciilcally, an object is to provide novel means for sensing the load position of a load responsive member to convert such position into equivalent manifestations.

L@ Further, this object is to convert the load position of a single member into a plural denominational order figure. 1

Another object is to provide for separate registrating of different classes of loads.

l5 Still another object is to prevent registration of a load unless the scale has first reached equilibrium.

An object is also to prevent issue of a printed record of the weight unless the scale has first 20 come to rest. i

Further objects of the instant invention reside in any novel feature of construction or operation or novel combination of parts present in the embodiment'of the invention described and 25 shown in the accompanying drawings whether within or without the scope ofthe appended y,

claims and irrespective of other specic statements as to the scope of the invention contained herein.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine, Figs. 2 and 3 are sections, respectively, along lines 2-2 and 3--3 of Fig. 1, 35 Figs. 4' and 5 are sections, respectively, along lines 4-4 and 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a section along lines 6--6 of Fig. i, Fig. 7 is a section along lines i--l of Fig. 3, Fig. 8 is a section lsubstantially along lines v40 8--8 of Fig, 3,

Fig. 9 is a view looking at the right side of Fig. 8,

Fig. 10 shows one of the cams and lever controlled thereby, i 45 Fig. 11 is an enlargement of a portion of Fig. 3 showing a different position of the parts,

Fig. 12 is the circuit diagram, Fig. 13 is a section along lines I3-I3 of Fig. 6, Fig. 14 shows a portion of Fig. 6, with the parts in an actuated position,

Fig. 15 is a section along lines IS-I of Fig. 4, Figs. 16 to 21v are detail gures showing various cams of the machine, and 55 F18. 22 is a timing diagram.

(Cl. 21M- 5.4)

Weighing mechanism Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the weighing scale comprises load platform or support I0 having legs II resting on links I2 suspended from base levers I3 and Il, interconnected by link I5. The nose end of lever I3 is connectedl by link I6 to upper lever I'I, connected by dependent tape IB to power cam IS of pendulum shaft 20 carrying pendulum 2i and gear sector 22. The latter meshes with pinion '23 of indicator shaft 2t, one 10 end of which carries weight dial read against a suitable fixed lindex through sight window 21 (see also Figs. 4. and 7) of outer casing or housing 28.

Base lever I3 is connected to plunger rod 29 l5 of a dash pot or oil check 29, which is of the form disclosed in Patent No. 2,027,077, for checking vibration of the weighing mechanism and for sensing equilibrium or a condition of rest of the weighing mechanism, for a purpose whichl 20 will be explained later.

A load placed on platform Iii causes base levers I3 and Il to rock downwardly, lever I3 rocks lever Il counterclockwiseV (Fig. 2), causing tape I 8 to rock pendulum shaft 20 clockwise. Pen- 25 dulum 2| comes to rest at an angle for balancing the load, while sector 22 rotates pinion 23, indicator shaft 24, and dial 25 to indicate the masnitude of the load.

For4 the purposes ofthe disclosure, the illus- 30 trated scale has a maximum capacity or weighing range of twenty-five pounds.

Seector mechanism Selector mechanism controlled by the welghing mechanism is used to effect a mechanical representation of the load which is converted into operation of means auxiliary to the scale proper; in the present case, auxiliary printing and registering means. Referring to Figs. l3 and 7, the selector mechanism comprises selector disks 3U, 3i, and 32 fixed to indicator shaft 24 and to each other for rotation with the shaft to a load point or position corresponding to the weight on platform I0. Disk 30 is the tens of pounds denominational order disk and is formed circumferentially with steps 300, Sil- 1, and 30-2, progressively of small radii, representing 0, 1, and 2`in the tens of pounds order. The maximum capacity being twenty-five lbs., step 30-2 is only half as long as the other steps. With shaft 24 moving from its 0 position up to but not including the 10 lbs. position, step 30-0 travels past an index position coincident with the 0 position of disk 55 3D, during travel of the shaft from the 10 lbs. position up to but not including the twenty lbs. position, step 30-1 traverses the index position; the travel of the shaft from the 20 lbs. position up to but not including the twenty-five lbs. p0- sition moves step 30-2 past theindex position. The 0 and twenty-five pound points of disk 30 are coincident so that a load of twenty-five lbs. is not to be registered or printed, but loads any fraction less than twenty-five-lbs. are to be registered and printed.

Disk 3l is the units of pounds order disk and is formed circumferentially with a series of ten steps 31-0 to 9, progressively of smaller radii, representing 0 to 9 lbs., and occupying the angle subtended by tens order steps 30-0. A similar series of steps 31-0 to 9 lies within the range of tens step 30-1, and a series of five steps 31--0 to 4 occupies the angle subtended by tens step SCI-2. The index positions of disks 30 and 3| are horizontally alined, so that for a load range of 0 up to but not including 10 lbs., the first series of steps 31-0 to 9 and step 30-0 simultaneously traverse their index positions; for loads from 1G lbs. up to but not including 20 lbs., the second series of steps 31-0 to 9 and step 30-1 simultaneously traverse the index positions; for loads from 2O lbs. up to but exclusive of lbs., steps 31--0 to 4 of the third series and step -2 traverse the index positions.

Disk 32 is the ounce orders disk, provided with a circle of laterally projecting pins 33, successively spaced pound distances apart.

When a load is applied to the scale, shaft 24 is rotated counterclockwise (Fig. 3), positioning disks 30, 3|, and 32 relative to their respective index positions according to the load. A step of disk 30 at its index position, a step of disk 3| at its index position, and the distance of a pin 33, nearest to the index position of disk 32 in a counterclockwise direction, from this index position combine to represent the load in pounds and ounces. Thus, for a load of 18 lbs., 12 ounces, disks 30, 3|, and 32 have rotated counterclockwise, placing step 30-1 and a step 31-8, within the range of step 30-1, at alined index positions, and positioning a pin 33 at a distance from the ounces index position equivalent to 12 ounces.

Reading mechanism Reading mechanism is provided to read or sense the load representation of disks 30, 3|, and 32 and to read out or transmit such representation to the auxiliary means comprising printing and registering means. The reading mechanism may be said to transfer the load reading of disks 30, 3|, and 32 to the printing and registering means.

The tens of lbs. disk 30 is read at its index position by the horizontally bent tab 35' (Fig. '7) formed at the forward end of a slide 35 (also see Fig. 3) mounted in frame 36 for radial slidable movement towards the disk. At its rear end, slide 35 is pivotaily connected to an arm 31 rotatably carried by shaft 33 (also see Fig. 5).

The units of lbs. disk 3| is read at its index position by a tab 49 at the forward end of a slide mounted on frame 33 and connected to arm 4| rotatably mounted on shaft 38.

The position of the ounces disk 32 is converted into an ounce reading by primary and secondary reading means. The primary reading means comprises sixteen fingers 42 rockably mounted on a pin 43 carried by frame 36. The sixteen fingers may be referred to as fingers 42-0 to 15.

respectively relating to 0 to 15 ounces, and having steps 42' progressively decreasing in radial distance from the axis of disk 32. Thus, the step of finger 42-0 is at a radial distance corresponding to 0 ounce, while the step of ringer 42-15 is at a radial distance corresponding to 15 ounces: between these fingers, the steps are evenly graduated to correspond to l to 14 ounces. When the load is an exact pound amount without an ounce remainder, a pin 33 of disk 32 is directly in front of zero finger 42-0. For any other ounce position of the disk, a pin 33 will be located in front of the linger corresponding to such ounce remainder. As indicated in Figs. 3 and "I, fingers 42 are superimposed one upon another, with their rear fiat faces lying in a common vertical plane, while the front faces of steps 42' also lie in a common vertical plane. Thus, should the iingers be moved towards the side of disk 32, one of them will contact a pin 33 to be held thereby remote from the side of disk 32, in a definitely predetermined position with its step 42' in the path of the head 44' of 'a slide 44 mounted on frame 36. The remaining fingers will all move equal amounts towards the side of disk 32, and their steps will be out of the path of advance of head 44. As stated before, fingers 42 comprise the primary ounce reading mans. The head 44 and slide 44 with connected means, to be described later, may be termed the secondary ounce reading means.

Initially all fingers 42 are held outside the path of rotation of pins 33, as indicated in Fig. 7, by engagement of the fiat rear faces of the fingers with the cross bar of a bail 45, the sides or arms 45 of which are pinned to a shaft 46 rotatably mounted in frame 36. At one end, shaft 46 is rigidly provided with an arm 41 connected by link 48 to one end of lever 49, the other end of which projects freely through a slot in frame plate 50 to engage with the forward end of a slide bar 5|. The free end of lever 49 is connected to a spring 52 urging the lever counterclockwise (Fig. 7), which through link 48, urges arm 41, its shaft 46, and bail 45 thereof clockwise. Thereby, bail bar 45 is held normally against the backs of fingers 42 to prevent their movement towards the path of rotation of pins 33. When bail rod 45 is moved counter-clockwise to release fingers 42, springs 53, connected to the tails of the fingers, moye the fingers towards the side of disk 32, one of them, however, being restrained from such movement by abutting a pin 33. To move bail 45 counter-clockwise, lever 49 must be rocked clockwise and this is done by advance of slide bar 5|. As indicated in Fig. 3, slide bar 5| is pivotally connected at its rear end to the upper erm of a lever 54, the lower end of which rests on a cam of cam shaft 56 (see Figs. 4 and 16). Each revolution of cam shaft U6 constitutes one cycle of the machine (see Fig. 22), Near the beginning of the cycle of shaft 56, cam 55 rocks lever 54 clockwise to advance bar 5| against resistance of spring 52 connected to lever 49. This movement of bar 5| is completed at 90 of the cycle. The forward end of bar 5|, during its advance, rocks lever 49 clockwise, causing counterclockwise movement of bail 45 to permit movement of fingers 42 towards the side of disk 32. 'I'he finger corresponding to the ounce remainder will engage a pin 33 and be restrained thereby from moving its step 42' out of the path of advance of head 44 of slide 44. The remaining fingers will move towards the side of disk 32 as far aspennitted bybail 45 and will all be outof '3) to advance their connected slides.

the path vof head 44' of slide 44. Slide 44 is pivotally connected at its rear end to arm 81 rotatably mounted on shaft 38 (see Figs. 3 and 5).

The`hubs of arm 31 of the tens of lbs. slide 35, arm 4|,of the' units of lbs. slide 48, and arm 51 of slide 44 for reading ounce fingers 42 which have previously read the position of ounce disk 32, are all rotatably mounted on shaft 88. An additional arm 58, the purpose of which 'will be explained later, is also freely mounted on shaft 38. Springs 59 connected individually to arms 31, 4|, 51, and 58 urge the latter clockwise (Fig.

This action is normally restrained by engagement of the front edges of the arms with adjustable screws 88 carried by the cross bar of a bail 8|, the sides of which are fixed to shaft 38. A crank arm 82 fast to the shaft is connected by link 63 to one end of a lever 84, the opposite end of which follows a cam 85 of cam shaft 58 (see Figs. 4 and 17). Near the beginning of the cycle (Fig. 22), cam 85 permits lever 84 to rock counterclockwise, causing clockwise rocking of shaft 38,

ball 8|, and arms 31, 4|, 51, and 58, all under the inuence of springs 59. The arms 31, 4|, and 51, thereupon, advance their respective slides 35, 48. and 44. Slide 35 advances until its feeler end 35 engages a step of tens of lbs. disk 38, corresponding to the tens order lb. value of the load, slide 48 advances until its end 48' engages a step of units of lbs. disk 3| corresponding to the units order 1b. value of the load, and slide iii advances till its head 44 is stopped by the step 82 of the finger 42 corresponding to the ounces remainder of the load. The slides are thus differentially arrested in accordance with the pounds and ounces values of the load, and their connected rocker arms are correspondingly differentially arrested. These differential operations of the slides and their arms are completed at 98 of the cycle (Fig. 22) and control operation of printing and registering means.

Printing and registering means Referring to Figs. 1, 4, 5, 6, and 13, four separate weight totalizers or registers 18, lll,I 12, and 13 are provided, each for registering and totalizing the weights of a different class of article.

For instance, each register may relate to a different'class of laundry work to be charged for at different rates or prices per pound.

Each register comprises seven indicating wheels 15, the lowest order one being the ounce wheel 'l5-oz. bearing sixteen numbers 8 to i5 around its circumference, the next wheel is the units pound wheel 'I5- 1, the next higher one is the tens pound wheel 'l5-l0, and the remaining wheels are successively in higher orders.

Each wheel'15 is fixed to a sleeve 18 rigidly provided with a pinion'11. The sleeves 16 are rotatably mounted side by side on a shaft i8 which is capable of vertical movement in vertically elongated slots 19 of frame plates 88 and 88', as indicated in Figs. 3, 6, and 14.

Adjacent each register is a shaft 8| (Figs. 3, 6, ll, 14 and 15) rotatably mounted in frame plates 88 and 88', and rigidly provided with a pair of arms 82 forked at their outer ends to receive the adjacent register shaft 18. One end of each shaft 8| extends outside of frame plate 88' and is rigidly provided with a depending arm 83, the hub of which is formed with a shoulder 83 engageable with the nose end of a latch pawl 84 held down by a spring 85. Normally, each shaft 8| is in counterclockwise position (Fig. 3),

"cated in Fig.v 11.

retained therein by engagement of pawl 84 with step 83' of arm 8l. In this counterclockwise position of a shaft 8|, its forked arms 82 hold shaft 18 of the adjacent register in-upper position, in. which pinions 11 are clear above the upper teeth 88a of associated racks 88.

spaced longitudinal portions with the four pinions 11 of corresponding orders of the four totalizers 18, 1|, 12, and 13. Each rack is held fiat against the side of a companion slide 98 by headed studs 9| fixed to the slide and passing through elongated slots 92 of the paired rack. A coil spring 93 between the paired slide and rack tends to move the latter to the left to engage the right ends of slots 92`with studs 9|, this movement corresponding in extent to one step of movement of any register order above the ounce order. In the zero position of the slide and rack, shown in Fig. 6, a shoulder 94 of the rack abutsy a stop pawl 95 while the slide is one step further to the left, with spring 93 under tension. The

paired racks and slides of the ounce, units of lbs.,'and tens of lbs. register orders and an additional rack .slide 98 are mounted for horizontal.

movement by rods 8i and held in definite transverse location along the rods by bushings 98 (see Fig. 13). The remaining higher .order slides 98 are iixed against movement but their paired racks may move along rods 91 for one step of movement to effect a carry-over or transfer from. a lower to a higher order wheel, to be explained later.

Racks 88 of the units, tens, and ounce orders of the registers are formed at their left, along their lower edges with teeth 86h, while rack 98 similarly is provided with teeth 96h. Meshed with the lower teeth of each rack is the first gear 99 of a train of gearing 99, the last element of which is a pinion |88 rigid with a type wheel |82. In this manner, each rack is drivingly con nected through a separate train of gearing to one of the type wheels |82 mounted in alinement on a shaft |8| (see Figs. 3 and 4).

Rack 98 is formed along its upper edge with four steps 98a (Fig. 15) differentially distant from pins |88 (also see Figs. 4 and 11) secured to and extending from the sides of keys |88 (see also Figs. l and 3). There is one key |84 for each totalizer, and each key is vertically guided by guide rollers |85 and provided with a lowermost pin |86, a next higher pin |81, the still higher pin |83, and an upper pin |88, all indi- Normally, a key |84 is in raised position and its pin |83 is above the top of slide 98. Upon depression of a key, its pin |83 moves down in front of an associated step 96a of rack 96, prepared to engage this step to arrest the slide after a differential movement corresponding to theclassification of the key. The pin |81 of a key is seated in the forked end of a latch ||8 pivoted to a slide I II. Latch ||8 initially engages the tail of a coupling dog I2, also pivoted on slide I, and prevents clockwise movement of the dog, as indicated in Fig. 3.

` When 'a key |84 is depressed, its pin |81 rocks latch ||8 clockwise to release it from dog ||2, as 'indicated in Fig. 11, permitting a spring ||3 to rock the dog clockwise to seat a lug ||2 thereof within a notch in the lowerend of arm 83 of the shaft 8| adjacent the register assoedges of the slides.

ciated with the depressed key. Arm 83 and its shaft 8| are thus coupled by dog ||2 to slide When latch ||0 is released from dog ||2 and the latter rocked clockwise, the bottom of the latch abuts the top of the tail of dog 2, preventing counterclockwise rocking of the latch and return rise of the key.

After lug ||2' of a dog ||2 enters the notch of arm 83, pin |08 of the key effects release of latch 84 from shoulder 83 of arm 83. With latch 84 released from arm 83, the latter, its shaft 8|, and the associated register are now held in initial position only by lug ||2 of dog H2.

The lowest pin |06 of a key |04 is located normally between the oppositely beveled edges of anking horizontal key stop slides H5. lWhen a key is depressed, its pin spreads the anking slides apart to seat between the facing vertical The remaining slides crowd together to prevent depression of any other key so that only one key at a time may be depressed.

Drive 'means and one-revolution cycle- The lower edge of each key |013 is directly on top of one of four parallel, horizontal arms ||6 (Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, and l5) pinned to a shaft |I1. The second arm H6 from the left (as viewed in Fig. 6) is extended to the rear to provide a rearward extension li'i from which a pin ||8 (Figs. 4, 5, and 6) projects laterally, underneath the bent over upper end H9 of a vertical slide H9 (also see Fig. 8). When a key |04 is depressed, it moves the underlying arm ||6 downwardly, causing shaft ||1 and extension |l6' to rock clockwise (Fig. 4) against resistance of a spring |20. Pin ||B thereupon raises slide ||8 against resistance of a spring |2I connected to the lower end of the slide. The lower end of slide ||9 is formed as a hook latching a paJl |22 to prevent a spring |23 from rocking the pawl clockwise (Fig. 6).

It may be noted that springs |23, |2I, and |20 combine to resist depression of any of keys |04 and normally hold the keys in upper position.

Pawl |22 latches a clutch dog |24 pivoted to the driven clutch disk |25 and prevents a spring |26 from rocking the dog into coupling engagement with a clutch cam |21 fixed to shaft |28. One end of shaft |28 has a pulley |29 driven by a belt from a pulley |30 (Fig. '1) on a shaft |3|. Shaft |3| is geared to the shaft of driving motor M (also see Figs. 3 and 4). Thus, while motor M is running, driving clutch shaft |28 is continuously rotating. The motor M is placed in operation when the switch 22| (Fig. 1) is set in on position. This switch is diagrammatically shown in the circuit diagram, Fig. 12. When a key |04 is depressed to rock associated arm ||8 and its shaft ||1 for raising slide |l9, the latter rocks pawl |22 counterclockwise (Fig. 6). Pawl |22 thereupon releases clutch dog |24 which moves into engagement with clutch cam |21, thus coupling driving shaft |28 to driven clutch disk |25.

Clutch disk |25 is fast to one end of a sleeve |33 (Figs. 8 and 9) freely surrounding shaft |28 and rigid with a pair of gears |34 and |35. Gear |34 meshes with gear |36 (see also Figs. 4 and 6) of cam shaft 56 to rotate the latter for a one revolution cycle (Fig. 22).

Reading operation-As explained before, near the beginning of the cycle of cam shaft 55, cam 55 (Figs. 4, 16, and 22) coacts wlth lever 54 (Fig.

3) to move slide bar 5| towards the right. Bar 5| acts through lever 49, link 48, and arm 41 to rock shaft 46 and bail 45 counterclockwise (Fig.v 7), enabling fingers 42 to move towards the side of ounce disk 32. In accordance with the ounce remainder of the load, a pin 33 of disk 32 will be behind one of the fingers, corresponding to such ounce remainder, so as to abut the latter finger and prevent it from moving towards the side of disk 32, thereby placing the step 42 thereof in the path of advance of head 44 of slide 44.

While the above action is taking place, cam 65 (Figs. 4, 17, and 22) permits lever 64 to rock counterclockwise (Fig. 3), enabling clockwise movement of bail 5| to be effected by arms 31, 4|, 51, and 58 under the influence of springs 59, as explained before.

Key classification printing selection-Arm 58 is pivotally connected at its upper end to slide 96 (see Fig. 15), and when the arm moves clockwise under the pull of its spring 59, it actuates this slide to the right until a step 95a thereof abuts the lowered pin |03 of the depressed key |04` The steps 96a are differentially spaced from the pins |03 of the different keys to permit differential movement of slide 96 varying in accordance with which key is depressed. Differential movement of this slide acts through its rack teeth 96h, and gearing 99, |00 to differentially rotate the right hand type wheel |02 (as viewed in Fig. 4), placing a type character thereof, corresponding to the code or classification of the depressed key, in printing position.

Weight printing selection- Arms 31, 4|, and 51 are pivotally connected, respectively, to the slides 90 of the tens, units, and ounces orders of the registers or totalizers 10, 1|, 12, and 13. When arm 31 moves clockwise, it simultaneously moves its connected slide 90 and the feeler slide 35 to the right. When the feeler end 35' of slide 35 reaches the locus of a. "0 step of tens order disk 30, the studs 9| of the slide 90 have taken up the play in slots 92 of companion rack 3S, and further movement of slide 90 to the right thereafter will effect joint movement of the paired rack. For a "0" value in the tens order, rack 86 will have no movement at all. For tens order values 1 to 9, feeler slide 35 will move one to nine steps, causing associated slide 90 to move the companion rack 86 correspondingly.

Similarly, arm 4| Will be arrested when its connected feeler slide 40 engages its end 40 with a step of units order disk 3|, causing associated slide 90 to move its paired rack 86 differentially in accordance with the value of the units order of the load.

Likewise, arm 51 will be arrested when its connected feeler slide 44 engages its head 44 with the step 42 of the finger 42 which is being held back by a pin 33 of ounce disk 32. Accordingly, associated slide 90 will effect a differential movementv of companion rack 96 corresponding to the value in ounces of the remainder of the load.

Differential movements of rack will be transmitted through their lower rack teeth 86h and gearing 99 and |00 to type wheels |02. The left hand type wheel |02 (Fig. 4) will be positioned to print the tens order value of the load, the next wheel |02 to print the units order value of the load, and the third wheel from the left to print the ounces remainder. Each of the type wheels, except the ounce wheel, has ten types 0 to 9. The ounce wheel has sixteen types 0 to l5 for printing 0 to 15 ounces, and the gearing 99, |00, and rack teeth 86a associated with the ounce -wheel are designed to move the ounce wheel one to fifteen differential steps, corresponding to 1 Y to ounces, as determined by the steps 42 of the ounces sensing fingers 42.

Serial numbering- Ahum with type wheels |02 are serial numbering type wheels |40 (Fig. 4) for printing serial numbers. These type wheels are advanced one unit each revolution of cam shaft 66 by means of a multiple pawl |4| when the latter is rocked during each4 revolution of the cam shaft. The pawl is rocked by engagement of a pin |42 connected thereto with a rocker arm |43 following a cam |44 (see Figs. 4 and 22). The serial number means are of ordinary construction and need not be described further.

Printing operation-Below type wheels |02 and |40 is passed an ink ribbon |45 (see Fig. 3), carried by spools |46, and the feed means of which need not be described herein.

Before the printing operation takes place, feed on, from a supply roll (not shown) across the fiat table |48 and through and past upper and lower eject rolls |49, normally spaced apart.

Table |48 is out out below the type Wheels to enable a printing hammer |50 to move upwardly therethrough '(see Fig. 4). Hammer |50 is guided for vertically slidable movement by bushings |5| surrounding posts |52 depending from the hammer. Springs |53, surrounding posts |52, normally depress the hammer. Centrally depending from hammer |50 is a pin |54 following a cam |55 of cam shaft 56 (see Figs. 4 and 20). After the type wheels have been positioned according to the key classification, the load, and the serial number, and after a strip of paper P has been fed` into printing position, between platen or hammer |50 and the type wheels, the cam |55 at about 160 (see Fig. 22) moves hammer |50 upwardly, against resistance of springs |53, to cause the type wheels to print the key code, the weight in pounds and ounces, and the serial number along a single line on the strip of paper P.

Paper shearing-After the printing operation, the printed strip is severed and ejected. I'he strip shearing means comprises cutting blade |56 (Figs. 3 and 8) rigid with dependent pins |51 slidably guided in fixed bushings |58 and held down by springs |59. A central, depending pin |60'of the cutter abuts an arm |6|a fast to a.

sleeve shaft 6| which has a rigid arm |6|b following a cam |62 (Figs. 4, 8, and 19). After the printing operation (see Fig. 22), cam |62 rocks wise (Fig. 3), elevating blade |56 to sever the printed ticket from the web of paper P, which is then ejected, as will be explained now.

Ticket eject-The forward, free end of the strip or ticket, when in printing position, is between and slightly past theupper and lower eject rolls |49, which are initially spaced apart. Q'I'he shaft of the lower eject rigidly carries va pinion |63 (Figs. 4 and 6) meshed with gear |64, driven by gear |65 fast to cam shaft 56. 'I'he shaft of the upper eject rolls |49 is supported by the corner of a rockable L-shaped frame |66, pivoted on a stud |61 -and connected at its lower end to a lever |68 (Fig. 3) following a cam |69 (Figs. 4, 8, 1B, and 22) of cam shaft 56. A spring |10,con nected to lever |68, urges the latter against the cam. After the printed ticket has been severed by blade |56, cam |69 permits lever |68 to move counterclockwise, in turn rocking lever |66 clockwise, thereby moving upper eject rolls |49 down into coaction with the lower eject rolls to eject the severed strip or ticket. The upper and lower eject shafts are geared together (not Ishown) in` the usual way, so that when the upper eject shaft' ing 28.

Paper feed- Prior to the printing operation, a blank strip or ticket portion of paper P is fed into printing position by feed rolls |41 (Figs. 3 and 8). 'I'he feeding means includes a control cam |13 (Figs. 4, 6, and 9) on shaft 56, which engages the lower end of a lever |14 urged counterclockwise (Fig. 9 by a spring |15. Lever |14 has a stud |14' seated in the square-notched right end of a link |16 which at the opposite end is connected to a latch lever |11. In the initial position of link |16, a notch |16' thereof-is receiving a fixed pin |18. A spring |19 connected to link |16 urges the link to the right and downwardly, holding notch |16' against pin |18 and also maintaining the notched end of the link in engagement with stud |14' of lever |14. The right side of notch |16 is inclined and leads to an inwardly cut edge |16a of the link. Latch lever |11 normally latches a clutch dog against engagement with a driving clutch cam |8|. The clutch dog |80 is carried by a driven clutch disk |82 held in home position by a rebound pawl |82. Disk |82 is fast to shaft |83 of lower feed rolls |41 (see Fig. 8). Lower feed roll shaft |83 drives the upper feed roll shaft through gears |84 and |85. The driving clutch cam |8| is rigid with a gear |86 rotated by previously-mentioned gear |35 of the driven one-revolution clutch sleeve |33. At 90 of thecycle (see'Fig. 22), cam |13 permits lever |14 to rock counterclockwise (Fig. 9), causing stud |14' to shift link |16 to the left, thereby rocking latch lever |11 counterclockwise to release clutch dog |80 for engagement with driving clutch camy |8|. The driven disk |82 is thus coupled to cam |6| for causing rotation of lower inclined side` of 'notch |16' of the link was cammed upwardly by fixed pin |18 and the inwardly cut edge |1 6a of the link rode onto the fixed pin, thereby raising the right hand, notched end of` the link above the center of stud |14 of lever |14.A The continued movement of stud |14' cams thelink |16 upwardly so that its lower edge clears the stud, permitting spring |19 to return link |16 immediately to the right,l and thereby causing the latch |11 to return to position for lntercepting clutch dog |80 to interrupt rotation of the driven lower feed roll shaft at the end of one revolution, regardless of the time of return of lever |14. Thus, as indicated in Fig. 22, cam |13 starts to rock lever |14 at 90 of the cycle of main cam shaft 56, causing a feed cycle to start at and stop at 157. The lever |14, however, remains in actuated position, under control of cam |13 till about 295.

During the feed cycle, the ticket strip of paper P has been fed into printing position, and is 1ocated there at 157 of the main cycle. The printlng operation under control of cam |55 takes.

place thereafter, at about 160 of the cycle.

Weight registering' operation.-When lever |14 is rocked counterclockwise (Fig. 9) to initiate a paper feed cycle, it also causes the selected register 10, 1|, 12, or 13 to be coupled to racks 86 for operation during return movement of the racks to their zero positions. For this purpose, the upper end of lever |14 has a pin and slot connection to the lower end of an arm |90 fast to one end of a shaft I 9|, rigidly provided at the other end with an upright arm |92 (Figs. 3 and 5). The upper end of arm |92 has a pin and slot connection with slide When lever |14 is rocked counterclockwise (Fig. 9), its direction of movement is clockwise in Figs. 3 and 6. This results in counterclockwise movement of upright arm |92, effecting movement of slide to the left, causing the dog ||2 thereon which previously was coupled to an arm 83 by depression of a key |04, to also move to the left (also see Fig. 11). Dog ||2 thereupon rocks arm 8l, its shaft 8| and arms 82 thereof clockwise (Figs. 6 and 15), lowering the associated, selected register, to mesh pinions 11 of the latter with upper teeth 89a. of racks 86, as indicated in Fig. 14. All this occurred at about 100 (see Fig. 22) after the racks were moved under control of cam 65 in accordance with the sensing of the stepped disks to position the type wheels |02 for printing the load. At about 170 after printing has occurred at about 160, cam 65 starts restoring racks 86. Cam 65 acts through lever 64, link 69, arm 92, and shaft 38 to restore bail 6| counterclockwise (Fig. 3). During restoration of bail 6|, it encounters arms 31, 4|, 51, and 58, now in differential positions corresponding to the load and key code character, and returns these arms to their home positions. The return of the arms effects return movement of the tens, units, and ounce slides and of rack slide 96. Return of the latter slide restores the associated key code type wheel |02 to home position.

It will be' recalled that during the forward movement of each slide 90 under control of the connected weight sensing means, the paired rack 86 moved one step less than the slide as the play in slots 92 of the rack was taken up by studs 9| under the influence of spring 93 as the latter relaxed. The resulting advance of rack 86 was equivalent to the diierential value of the load order sensed by the associated readingA means, and caused positioning of a type wheel |02 according to such value. During return of a slide 90, the slide, acting through spring 93, returns the paired rack. As the rack returns, its upper teeth 86a now meshed with the lowered pinion 11 of an order of the register selected by the depression of a key |04, rotate the register order to enter a value therein. When the slide has reached its home position and rack 96 has been arrested in zero position by engagement of its shoulder 94y with stop pawl 95, the rack has beenmoved back the extent of its previous differential advance, which corresponded -to the load value in one order. This is so regardless of whether the resistanceof rotation of the register order to the return of the meshed slide or whether any other resistance to the return of the meshed slide effects stretching of spring 93 to permit return movement of the slide relative to the rack until the studs 9| of the slide engage the left ends of slots 92 of the rack. In any event, whether the spring 93 has stretched before pawl 95 stops the rack or stretches while slide 90 continues its return after the rack has been stopped, the return movement of the rack is equal to its previous forward rnove-A animos ment, which corresponded to the load value. Thus, the return movement of each rack 86 enters one order of the load value into the meshed register order. Each of the orders of the register wheels 15 except the ounce whee1 'l5-oz. is graduated to indicate 0 to 9. The ounce wheel is grad- .lated to read 0 to 15, as indicated in Figs. 5 and l0. Accordingly, just as the ounce printing wheel was geared to the teeth 86h of the ounce rack 86 to move 1 to 15 steps, so the upper teeth 84a of the ounce rack 86 are smaller than the teeth-84a of the other racks 86. Also, the pinion 11 of the ounce whee1 15 has sixteen teeth to mesh with teeth 86a of the ounce rack, so as to be rotated thereby in multiples of one-sixteenth of a revolution, each one-sixteenth step corresponding to one ounce. On the other hand, the pinions 11 of the higher order wheels 16 have ten teeth to be moved in multiples of one-tenth.

Carry-over or register transfer- When the ounce order wheel 'i5-oz. of a register moves from 15 to 0, a transfer of 1, corresponding to one pound, must be effected to the units wheel 'I5-1. Also, upon movement of units pounds whee1 75--1 from 9 to "0", transfer of 1 must be effected to the tens of lbs. wheel l5-l0, and so on, from each order whee1 to the higher order whee1. For this purpose, each pinion 11 has a transfer stud |95 extending transversely from the side of a pinion tooth. When a register is selected for operation, its pinions 11 are lowered into mesh with teeth 86 of racks 96, and each of the transfer studs |95 is thereby located in a path of rotation which intercepts the upper end of an upright arm |96. There is one such arm for each pinion of each register order except the highest order. Also, one such set of arms |99 is provided Vfor each of the registers 10, 1|, 12, and 13 (see Figs. 5, 6, 13, and 14). The arms |96 of each register set are rotatably carried by a rod |91. The four arms of corresponding orders of the several totalizers are connected for common rocking movement by a link |98 (Fig. 6). 'I'he left hand arm |96 (Fig. 6) is part of a three-armed lever |99 which has a horizontal arm |99a, the outer end of which is formed as the previouslymentioned rack stop 95. A depending arm |99b of lever |69 is connected by a spring 200 to the lower arm of a lever 20| rotatably carried by a shaft 202. In the zero position of a rack 89 (Fig. 6), the outer edge of the upper, hook-shaped end of lever 20| abuts the lower, complementarily hooked end of the rack stop 95.

As best shown in Fig. 13, the upper end of each arm |96, in the path of rotation of transfer lug |95 of a register order, is connected to the stop pawl 95 which is in the path of shoulder 94 of the rack 96 of the next higher register order.

When any register is in lower, entry-receiving position, and the ounce order wheel 'I5-oz. thereof advances from (15" to 0, the transfer lug |95 thereof engages and rides past the upper end of the associated arm |96 to rock the latter counterclockwisev (Fig. 6). Similar action is effected when any other order of the register advances from 9" to 0. Regardless of which denominational order arm |96 has been rocked, its movement is transmitted, through link |98, to the connected lever |99, rocking the latter counterclockwise against resistance of spring 200, aid, thereby, lowering the upper end of rackstop pawl 95 below shoulder 94 of the rack of the register order next higher than the one which, by advancing one step to its 0 position, has effected actuation of the arm |95. As the stop pawl is rocked 75 downwardly, its lower end moves below the upper hook end of lever 20| and is thereby latched in lowered position, as indicated in-Fig. 14. Thus, when the rack 86 in iront of the upper, horizontally bent stop end of the lowered and latched pawl 95 reaches "0" position, vinstead of being stopped by the pawl, it moves with its paired slide .90 further to the left until the slide reaches home position. At this point, the right hand ends of slots 92 of the rack abut the studs 9| of its paired slide, so that rack 86 has moved an additional step corresponding to one step of entry movement of the meshed register order, thereby transferring 1 thereto from the next lower order wheel which lias moved from 9" to 0, or in the case of the ounce wheel, from "l5" to 0. For those register orders above the tens of lbs. orders, the release of pawls 95 from shoulders 94 permits immediate transfer operation of the racks.

The weight registering operation is completed at about 295 under control of cam 65 (Fig. 22). The next operation is the return to the right of the slide I to its home position. This is effected as cam |13 starts at 295 to return lever |14 clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 9 or counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 3. Return of lever |14 effects rocking of arm |90, its shaft |9I, and arm |92 thereof, clockwise as viewed in Fig. 3. Arm |92 moves slide to the right (also see Fig. 11), causing the dog |I2 thereof still coupled to the arm 83 to restore the latter counterclockwise, effecting return upward movement of the selected register to theinactive position, with its pinion 11 clear above and demeshed from racks 86 (see Fig. 6).

The next operation is effected by a cam 205 (Figs. 4 and 10) of cam shaft 56, which, at 330 (Fig. 22) rocks a lever 206 counterclockwise to effect clockwise movement of a pivotally connected arm 201 (also see Figs. 3, 13, 14, and 15) fixed to shaft 202. Arm 209 of shaft 202 has a pin and slot connection with a slide 2I0 (Figs. 3 and l1) having four studs 2| I, each in front of the lower arm of one coupling dog I 2 of slide I I I. Clockwise movement of arm 209 shifts slide 2I0 to the right, causing the pin 2|| in front of the dog 2 which is coupled to an arm 83 (the left hand one in Fig. 1l) to strike said dog and rock it counterclockwise, releasing lug |I2 from arm 83, which has already been returned to its normal counterclockwise position by return of slide III, as previously described. Arm 83, its shaft 8|, arms 82 thereof, and the register connected therewith, are now, at 330 of the cycle, uncoupled from slide I I I and the register is in normal upper position.

When dog ||2 is rocked counterclockwise (Fig. 11) by a pin 2|| of slide 2I0, its upper end rides off the bottom of the left arm of latch ||0, permitting key |04 to rise. As the key rises, its pin |01 rocks latch ||0 counterclockwise to place its left end behind the tail of dog |I2, thereby' latching the latter in normal position, as indicated in Fig. 3. When dog ||2 released latch ||0, the key was permitted to rise, as above described.

The rise of the key is effected mainly by spring |2| (Fig. 6), acting to depress slide bar ||9, the upper end I I9 of which acts on pin I| 8 of arm H6 to rock shaft I|1 counterclockwise (Fig. 4), causing the arm ||6 underneath the key I04`to rise and elevate the key. Thus, when the key is permitted to rise by the release of dog |I2 from the bottom of latch IIO (Fig. l1), slide ||9 (Fig. 6) also is released for depression by spring |2I. As slide II9 moves down, it pemits pawl |22 to rock clockwise (Fig. 6) placing its lower, hook end in the path of rotation of the tail of yclutch dog |24. The engagement of the pawl |22 with the tail of dog |24 uncouples the latter from clutch cam |21, thus stopping driven clutch |25 at the end of a one-revolution cycle. Since cam shaft 56 is geared 1:1 to clutch disk |25, the cam shaft also is arrested at the end of one revolution.

Cam 205 (Figs. 4 10, and 22) as described above, effected actuation of arm 206 to rock arm 201, its shaft 202, and arm 209 thereof clockwise (Figs. 3 and 11) for causing movement of slide 2I0 to cause return of the register and its key |04 to normal positions. When shaft 202 is rocked clockwise, it rocks a bail 2|2 (also see Fig. 13) pinned thereto in the same direction. Bail 2|2 has a cross rod 2I2a at its lower end and a crossv bar 2I2b at its upper end. Clockwise rocking of bail 2|2 causes the rod 2|2ar to act on the lower ends of levers tounlatch the upper hook ends of the levers 20| from any of the transfer pawls 95 which may have been latched down by a carryover operation (see Fig. 14). At the same time, cross bar 2 |2b engages the shoulders 2|4 of those racks 86 which have been released for an additional transfer step and moves these racks to the right into their -0 positionsfin which they are then retained by the transfer pawls 95.

Incidentally, when cam 65 caused return of racks 86 and 96, to effect the registration in the selected register of the load, the weight and key code printing wheels |02 are restored to zero positions. Thus, as racks 86 and 96 return to zero positions, their lower teeth 86b and 96h acted through gearing 99', 99, and |00 to restore the type wheels |02 to zero positions.

Equilibrium control.-The initiation of a cycle of operations was effected by depression of any one of keys |04. It is desirable not to depress any key |04 until the scale has come 4to rest or is in equilibrium under the load. To indicate to the operator when the key |04 should be depressed, a signal light 2I5 (Figs. l and l2) lights up while the weighing mechanism is moving and darkens when the scale comes to rest under a load. For this purpose, dash pot 29, connected through plunger 29' to base 'lever I3 is utilized. As disclosed in Patent No. 2,027,077, the main dash pot 29 communicates with an auxiliary dash pot 29a, the plunger of which operates a lbell crank lever 2 I6. Referring to Fig. 12, the vertical arm of the bell crank lever has a conductive spring strip 2|1 provided with opposite contact studs 2|8, alternately engageable with a pairof contacts 2|9 straddling the contacts 2|8.

When a load is applied to platform I0 (Figs. 1 and 2), lever |3 is depressed; causing a surge of oil in dash pot 29, which istransmitted to the oil in dash pot 29a, causing oscillation of lever 2|6 until the scale comes to rest. Oscillation of lever 2 |1 rapidly, but alternately, engages the opposite contacts 2|8 with contacts 2I9. Each such engagement closes a circuit through a solenoid 220, as follows: from the positive side of the supply line through switch 22|, through either contact 2|9, the engaged contact 2|8, strip 2|1, a line 222, solenoid 220, andto the negative side of the line.

Energization of solenoid 220 raises its plunger 223, causing closure of contacts 224 to form a circuit from the positive side of the line through contacts 224, a relay coil 225, to the negative side of the line.

Energization of relay 225 closes relay contacts 225a to form a circuit from the positive side of 2|5, to the negative side of the line.

Signal lamp 2|5 lights up, signaling the operator not to depress any of keys |04. When the scale comes to rest, dash pot contacts 2 Il are free of either contact 2|9, breaking the circuit of solenoid 220, permitting coil 223 to drop, opposed by the damping action of air dash pot 221, until contacts 224 open. Opening of contacts 224 breaks the circuit of relay 225, contacts 225a open, and lamp 2|5 is extinguished, signaling-to the operator that a key |04 may be depressed to start a cycle of weight printing and totalizlng operations.

When relay contacts 225a close, as above described, then in addition to a circuit being formed through signal lamp 2|5, ashunt circuit is formed through a magnet 22 6 as follows: from the positive side of the line, through relay contacts 225a, magnet 226, and to the negative side of the line.

Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, energization of magnet 226 rocks its armature 228 upwardly to place the upwardly turned hook end 228' of the armature in front of a horizontally bent tab 230 at the upper end of lever |14. The lever |14 is thus latched against counterclockwise movement (Fig. 9) under control of its cam |13. As indicated in Fig. 22, cam |13 normally permits rocking of lever |14 at 90 of the cycle. Thus, disturbance of the equilibrium after 90, energizing magnet 228 to rock its armature 226 is unavaiiing to stop operation of lever |14 since the latter has by then departed from its normal position in which it may be caught by hook 228 of armature 228. But, at 90, the reading of the stepped weight disks has already been completed under control of cams 55 and 05, and since this reading was effected while the scale was at rest, the remaining operations of the cycle 'will correctly print and register the actual load on the scale. Thus, lever |14 will properly cause release of the feed clutch dog |80 to initiate a feed cycle of paper P and also will have rocked arm i92 (Fig. 3) to move bar to the ieft (also see Fig. l1) to bring the selected register into lower position for receiving an entry of the printed weight.

Thus, the machine will operate correctly when equilibrium of the scale is reached either before the operator depresses the desired register key itl@ to start a Cycle or after the cycle has gone through 90.

li, while the scale is still in motion or is vibrating, the operator should disregard the warning of signal lamp 2|5 and depress a key |04 to start a cycle, then there will be no registration of the load and a printed ticket strip will not be issued. For this purpose, cam shaft 56 carries a cam 23| (Figs. 4 and 2l) for closing cam contacts 232 at about 5 of the cycle (see also Fig. 22) and maintaining said contacts closed through the operating period of lever |14. Contacts 232 are without effect unless at the time they close, the scale is still in motion. If the scale is in motion, relay contacts 225a will be closed, the signal lamp circuit will be made. and magnet 226 will be energized. The armature 228 of magnet 226 will be latching lever |14 (Fig. 9) against movement. If the operator now depresses a key |04, a cycle will start, and contacts 232 will close at 5. With the scale still in motion at 5, the relay contacts 225a are still closed, and the closing of contacts 232 forms a holding circuit for relay 225, from the positive side of the line, through relay contacts 225a, cam contacts 232, line 235, magnet 225, and to the negative side.

the line, through contacts 226a, and signallamp Thus, as long as contacts 232 are closed, relay 225 will remain energized and contacts 225a closed. Withcontacts 226a closed. the circuits of signal lamp 2|5 and magnet 226 will be closed. and armature 228 of magnet 226 will continue to latch up lever |14, preventing operation of the latter. Accordingly, a feed cycle of paper P xis not initiated and paper is not fed into printing position. The printing hammer |50, however, operates in the normal way under control of cam |55 (Figs. 4, 20, and 22), but since paper is not in printing position, operation of the hammer will not result in printing of the weight on a ticket. Also, operation of the eject rolls |49, under control of cam |69 (Figs. 3, 18, and 22) will not be interfered with, but the paper P not having been fed between the eject rolls, a ticket will not be ejected.

As another result of the latching of lever |14 against operation, under the conditions assumed above, the weight of the load will not be registered. Thus, as a result of failure of lever |14 to operate, the arm |90, its shaft |9|, and arm |92 thereof will not operate (see Fig. 3), and bar will not move. Because of failure of bar to move, the pinions 11 of the selected register will not be moved down into entry-receiving coaction with racks 86. Hence, return of the racks will have no effect on the registers and the weight of the load will not be registered.

As the cycle is completed, all the parts are restored to normal, cam contacts 232 have opened, and magnet 226 has been deenergized. In above manner, when the operator improperly depresses a key |04 while the scale is still in motion, a cycle of operations results but the operations during the cycle will not cause issue of a printed ticket or the registering of the weight.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modification it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l.1n a weighing scale including weighing,

mechanism to weigh an applied load, the combination of printing means, means controlled by the weighing mechanism for setting said printing means to print a record of the applied load on a strip of paper, means for feeding the strip of paper into printing position, means coacting with the printing means to effect printing on the record strip, a cyclical actuator for operating the lastnamed means, equilibrium sensing means for sensing equilibrium condition of the weighing mechanism, and means controlled thereby for preventing the feed of a record strip into printing position during the cycle of said actuator unless the weighing mechanism has reached equilibrium.

2. In a machine including a weighing mechanism for weighing an applied load, the combination of printing elements settable under control of the weighing mechanism in accordance with the applied load, a platen coacting with the printing elements for effecting printing of the load record on a record strip, means adapted to issue the printed record strip, cyclically operating means for effecting the aforesaid operations of the printing elements and platen, means for sensing the equilibrium condition of the weighing mechanism, and means controlled tlereby for preventing issue of a printed record strip unless the weighing mechanism has reached equilibrium `before the printing operation has occurred during the cycle of the cyclicaily operating means.

3. In combination; a carrier movable proportionally'to an applied load and provided with elements successively spaced aparta distance equivaient to a certain load unit and one `of which, as a result of the movement of the carrier, assumes a position whose distance from an index point is equivalent to that fractional amount of said load unit in excess of an even multiple of such units in the applied load, means for reading the position of the `latter element and including a series of stops mounted' for movement relatively to each other, means to move said stops in common towards the element in said position to cause one of saidl stops to engage and be arrested by said latter` element in a control plane while the remaining stops continue to move to non-control positions, feeler means movable along said control plane and engaging and stoppedI by the arrested stop after a differential movement corresponding to the fractional load amount, and manifesting means controlled by the feeler means in accordance with its differential movement for `manifesting the fractional load amount.

4. In combination; a carrier movable proportionally to an applied load vand provided with elements successively spaced a distance equivalent to a certain load unit and one of which, as a result of the movement of the carrier assumes a position relative to a reference point corresponding to that fraction of the load ,unit equal to the excess of the applied load over an even multiple of such load units, a seriesA of stops mounted for movement relatively to each other, means for commonly moving said stops towards the latter element whereby one of said stops engages and is arrested by said latter element in a control plane while the remaining stops continue to move to non-control locations, a sensing finger moved transversely to the direction of movement of said stops and along said control plane to engage and be arrested by the stop in the control plane after a differential movement corresponding to the aforesaid fraction of the load unit, and manifesting means controlled by the sensing fingers in accordance with the fractional load.

5. In a weighingscale, a carrier movableproportionally to an applied load and having spaced elements movable along a certain plane and successively spaced apart a distance corresponding to a given load unit and one of which, due to movement of the carrier, assumes a load position spaced from a reference point a distance. equivalent to a fractional amount of said load unit, means for reading the load position of the latter element including a series of stops for sensing different fractional amounts of said load unit, said stops being mounted for movement relative- 1y to each other4 and provided with stop shoulders differentially located with respect to each other in accordance with different fractional amounts of said load unit, said stops being'normally disposed along a plane spaced from the plane of said elements, means for moving said stops commonly and after said latter element has taken its load position towards the plane of the elements to cause one of said/stops to engage and be arrested by said latter element in a control position While the remaining stops continue to move further to non-control positions, a reading finger moved towardsthe stop shoulder of the arrested ystop in control position to engage the latter shoulder and be stopped thereby after a differential movement correspondingto the fractional amount of load unit represented by the latiter'stop shoulder, and manifestingmeans differentially operated under control of the finger and in accordance with the differential operation of the latter.

6. In av Weighing scale including weighing mechanism to weigh an applied load; the combination of a manifesting device, an entry effecting member therefor, a driving member for the entry effecting member differentially operated in accordance -with the applied load, means for mechanically coupling the aforesaid members to each other to cause the driving member to mechanically drive the entry effecting member to enter a value into the manifesting device in accordance with the differentialoperation of the driving member, means for sensing the equilibrium condition of the weighing mechanism, and means controlled by the equilibrium sensing means for preventing the mechanical coupling of the members to each other before the weighing mechanism reaches equilibrium..

` 7. In a scale such as dened in claim 6, a cyclically` operating mechanism'for operating the driving member to cause the latter to drive the entry effecting member, and means for initiating 

